2009-10 Game Twenty: Wild 4, Hurricanes 5 (SO)

Maybe the Carolina Hurricanes remembered too well what the Wild did to them in St. Paul. Maybe they really wanted to avoid setting a new record for consecutive games without a win. Then again, maybe they just took advantage of the Wild team that showed up for the first half of the game, and then hung on just hard enough for the second half of the game to give themselves their first win in the past fifteen games.

The Wild, however, brought two different looks. Needless to say, the first look the team presented can be left behind any time, as they never really got their skates under them, and they looked lost on the ice. Unable to win battles, or, for the most part, play like they cared, the Wild dug themselves a deep hole, and it certainly looked like it was going to be a long game. Unexpected offense coming from some last-minute replacements turned the game around, and almost allowed Minnesota to complete the comeback and gain the win. As it was, being down by three goals and still escaping with a point in the standings could be huge in the long run for this team.

Game pluses:
- Robbie Earl. The former UW player was called up by the Wild to fill in for an injured Chuck Kobasew. If Earl can keep playing the way he did against the 'Canes, he may find himself filling in for a hapless James Sheppard, or an inconsistent Benoit Pouliot. Earl's first two NHL goals sparked the Wild.
- John Scott. Twenty seconds after Earl scored his first NHL goal, John Scott did the same, scooping up the garbage from in front of the net. Scott's goal demonstrated exactly why a player in front of the net can be such a benefit.
- Mikko Koivu. The Wild captain seemed like the only member of the team that showed up to play in the early going of the game. He had some chances, including one shot off of the post, that could have changed the outcome of the game.

Game minuses:
- Special teams. The Wild's power play looks like two minutes where they completely relax and forget how to play the game. The penalty kill has been lapsing as of late, and gave up three of Carolina's goals.
- Clearing the crease. Even after the Wild found their legs, they couldn't get the Hurricanes away from Niklas Backstrom. The Wild spent too much time chasing the puck, and not enough time clearing the area in front of their goal.
- Fire. The Wild may have been facing the worst team in the league, but they're also a basement team right now, and they were finishing a road trip. If Minnesota had made an effort in the first period, the game would have most likely gone easily to the visitors.

Next up: The Wild have a couple of days off, and then return to action Wednesday night at home, taking on the surprising Phoenix Coyotes.